DHAKA, March 8, 2023 (BSS) – Two more bodies have been recovered so far today from the fatal explosion at a building near the BRTC bus counter at Gulistan in the city taking the death toll to 19. 

Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) police camp-in-charge Bacchu Miah confirmed the matter to BSS saying that during the rescue operation, two more dead bodies were found by the firefighters from the basement of the building concerned.

The victims were identified as Momin Uddin Sumon, 47, son of Md Robiullah, hailing from Malitula lane in Old Dhaka's Bangshal area and Robin Hossain, 20, son of Sohrab Hossain of Dholaipar of the capital's Jatrabari area. 

Both belonged to a shop named Anika Sanitary located at that seven-storey building, our DMCH correspondent said. 

The bodies have been kept at the DMCH, he added. 

“A total of 11 fire burnt patients were so far admitted to Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute”, its coordinator Dr Shamanta Lal Sen said.
 
The admitted patients include M Hasan, 32, Yasin, 26, Musa, 45, Khalil, 36, Azam, 36, Oli Sarder, 55, Al Amin, 25, Bachhu Mia, 55 and Mostafa, 50. 

The ten burnt patients --- three remains  at ICU, two are in life support and the rest are at SDU-- are not out of danger at all, Dr Samanta said, adding their respiratory organs have been damaged due to the fire.

The explosion took place around 4.45pm at a seven-storey building, mostly housing sanitary hardware stores alongside some private offices, rocking the entire area on Tuesday last.

Fire officials said the blast occurred on the ground floor and it damaged some other floors upstairs but it caused no fire, though residents in the neighbourhood said huge dust-smoke engulfed the area.

The Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) today formed a four-member probe committee to look into the explosion.

“The probe committee has been formed led by FSCD director (operation and maintenance) Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam,” said fire service duty officer Rashed Bin Khalid. 
 
The committee has been asked to submit the report within five working days, he said.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka district administration has announced to provide Taka 50,000 to the family of each deceased in the blast that also left more than 100 people injured.
 
The injured persons are receiving treatment at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Sheikh Hasina Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute and Mitford General Hospital.